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Environment
9th Circuit hears from tribes in sacred site case


The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on Thursday in a sacred site case being followed by more than a dozen tribes.

The Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the Hualapai Tribe and other tribes are trying to stop the expansion of a ski resort. They say the resort's use of reclaimed wastewater to make snow will desecrate the peaks.

Judges on the 9th Circuit expressed concerns about the wastewater, the Associated Press reported. But the AP said their questions focused on skiers at the Arizona Snowbowl.

The U.S. Forest Service allowed the Snowbowl to make snow and expand the facility. A federal judge upheld the decision.

Get the Story:
Indians Argue Against Ski Resort Plan (AP 9/15)
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Tribal reps at hearing (The Gallup Independent 9/14)

Appeals Court Documents:
Opening Brief [Word DOC] | Reply Brief [Word DOC]

Lower Court Decision:
Navajo Nation v. US Forest Service (January 11, 2006)

Approval Documents:
Final Environmental Impact Statement for Arizona Snowbowl Facilities Improvement | Forest Service Approves Snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl

Relevant Links:
Save the Peaks Coalition - http://www.savethepeaks.org
Coconino National Forest - http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/index.shtml

Related Stories:
Tribes press sacred site case before 9th Circuit (9/14)
9th Circuit to hear sacred site case on Thursday (9/13)
Southwest tribes go to court for sacred site (9/6)
Navajo Nation appeals court ruling on snowmaking (02/28)
Tribal coalition to appeal ruling on sacred peaks (1/13)
Judge allows snowmaking in sacred Arizona peaks (1/12)
Babbitt under fire for role in sacred site case (12/12)
Navajo president testifies in sacred site trial (11/03)
Trial over snowmaking in sacred peaks begins (10/24)
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Judge calls trial on snowmaking in sacred peaks (10/10)
U.S. argues against protecting sacred peaks in Arizona (10/7)
Hopi Chair: Ski area plan will destroy our culture (09/23)
Hopi Tribe joins lawsuit over snowmaking in peaks (07/08)
Bruce Babbitt fighting tribes on sacred site appeal (7/5)
Forest Service rejects tribal appeals on snowmaking (06/10)
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Appeals filed to snowmaking plan in sacred peaks (04/26)
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Editorial: Sacred peaks don't belong to tribes alone (3/14)
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Editorial: Ski area helped by snowmaking plan (02/20)
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Coalition protests snowmaking in sacred peaks (2/18)
Tribes to fight snowmaking in sacred Ariz. peaks (02/03)
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